The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume I, Fort Sumter to Perryville

The Civil War: A Narrative, Volume I begins one of the most remarkable works of history ever fashioned. All the great battles are here, of course, from Bull Run through Shiloh, the Seven Days Battles, and Antietam, but so are the smaller ones: Ball's Bluff, Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, Island Ten, New Orleans, and Monitor versus Merrimac.

The Science of Energy: Resources and Power Explained

To better put into perspective the various issues surrounding energy in the 21st century, you need to understand the essential science behind how energy works. And you need a reliable source whose focus is on giving you the facts you need to form your own educated opinions.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany

Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the 20th century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.

The Foundations of Western Civilization

What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.

A Day's Read

Join three literary scholars and award-winning professors as they introduce you to dozens of short masterpieces that you can finish - and engage with - in a day or less. Perfect for people with busy lives who still want to discover-or rediscover-just how transformative an act of reading can be, these 36 lectures range from short stories of fewer than 10 pages to novellas and novels of around 200 pages. Despite their short length, these works are powerful examinations of the same subjects and themes that longer "great books" discuss.

Lincoln

In the best-selling tradition of Truman, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David Herbert Donald offers a new classic in American history and biography - a masterly account of how one man's extraordinary political acumen steered the Union to victory in the Civil War, and of how his soaring rhetoric gave meaning to that agonizing struggle for nationhood and equality.

A Patriot’s History of the United States, Updated Edition: From Columbus's Great Discovery to America's Age of Entitlement

Over the past decade, A Patriot's History of the United States has become the definitive conservative history of our country, correcting the biases of historians and other intellectuals who downplay the greatness of America's patriots. Professors Schweikart and Allen have now revised, updated, and expanded their book, which covers America's long history with an appreciation for the values that made this nation uniquely successful.

Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History

Charlie Wilson's War is the untold story behind the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. George Crile tells how Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the agency's history.

Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills

No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.

War and Peace

Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.

The Winds of War

Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.

The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business

Josh Kaufman founded PersonalMBA.com as an alternative to the business school boondoggle. His blog has introduced hundreds of thousands of readers to the best business books and most powerful business concepts of all time. Now, he shares the essentials of entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, negotiation, operations, productivity, systems design, and much more, in one comprehensive volume. The Personal MBA distills the most valuable business lessons into simple, memorable mental models that can be applied to real-world challenges.

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1

First appearing in print in 1890, the character of Sherlock Holmes has now become synonymous worldwide with the concept of a super sleuth. His creator, Conan Doyle, imbued his detective hero with intellectual power, acute observational abilities, a penchant for deductive reasoning and a highly educated use of forensic skills. Indeed, Doyle created the first fictional private detective who used what we now recognize as modern scientific investigative techniques.

John Quincy Adams

He fought for Washington, served with Lincoln, witnessed Bunker Hill, and sounded the clarion against slavery on the eve of the Civil War. He negotiated an end to the War of 1812, engineered the annexation of Florida, and won the Supreme Court decision that freed the African captives of La Amistad. He served his nation as minister to six countries, secretary of state, senator, congressman, and president. John Quincy Adams was all of these things and more. In this masterful biography, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger reveals Adams as a towering figure in the nation’s formative years.

Black Hawk Down

Ninety-nine elite American soldiers are trapped in the middle of a hostile city. As night falls, they are surrounded by thousands of enemy gunmen. Their wounded are bleeding to death. Their ammunition and supplies are dwindling. This is the story of how they got there - and how they fought their way out. Black Hawk Down drops you into a crowded marketplace in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia with the U.S. Special Forces and puts you in the middle of the most intense firelight American soldiers have fought since the Vietnam war.

The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance

A gripping history of banking and the booms and busts that shaped the world on both sides of the Atlantic, The House of Morgan traces the trajectory of the J. P.Morgan empire from its obscure beginnings in Victorian London to the crash of 1987. Ron Chernow paints a fascinating portrait of the private saga of the Morgans and the rarefied world of the American and British elite in which they moved. Based on extensive interviews and access to the family and business archives, The House of Morgan is an investigative masterpiece.

You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself

An entertaining illumination of the stupid beliefs that make us feel wise. You believe you are a rational, logical being who sees the world as it really is, but journalist David McRaney is here to tell you that you're as deluded as the rest of us. But that's OK - delusions keep us sane. You Are Not So Smart is a celebration of self-delusion. It's like a psychology class, with all the boring parts taken out, and with no homework. Based on the popular blog of the same name, You Are Not So Smart collects more than 46 of the lies we tell ourselves everyday.

The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know

As recently as 1990, it seemed plausible that the solar system was a unique phenomenon in our galaxy. Thanks to advances in technology and clever new uses of existing data, now we know that planetary systems and possibly even a new Earth can be found throughout galaxies near and far.

The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

This is the remarkable story of the English language; from its beginnings as a minor guttural Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly established global language. The Adventure of English is not only an enthralling story of power, religion, and trade, but also the story of people, and how their lives continue to change the extraordinary language that is English.

The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor

In The Dorito Effect, Mark Schatzker shows us how our approach to the nation's number-one public health crisis has gotten it wrong. The epidemics of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are not tied to the overabundance of fat or carbs. Instead we have been led astray by the growing divide between flavor - the tastes we crave - and the underlying nutrition.

The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped Our World

Sproul's survey of the ongoing impact of history's most influential philosophies urges listeners to take prevailing cultural mind-sets seriously...because ideas do have consequences. The greatest thinkers of all time are impacting us still. From public-policy decisions and current laws to world events, theology, the arts, education, and even conversations between friends, history's most influential philosophies have wrought massive consequences on nearly everything we see, think, and do.

Unstuff Your Life: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good

Arguably the most organized man in America, Andrew J. Mellen has created unique, lasting techniques for streamlined living, bringing order out of chaos for a client list that includes attorneys, filmmakers, and even psychologists. With Unstuff Your Life! he puts his powerful program in the hands of his widest audience yet.

Anatomies: A Cultural History of the Human Body

The human body is the most fraught and fascinating, talked-about and taboo, unique yet universal fact of our lives. It is the inspiration for art, the subject of science, and the source of some of the greatest stories ever told. In Anatomies, acclaimed author of Periodic Tales Hugh Aldersey-Williams brings his entertaining blend of science, history, and culture to bear on this richest of subjects.

Publisher's Summary

Since the liberal revolution of the '60s and '70s, American history books have been biased toward the negative. They overemphasize America's racism, sexism, and bigotry while downplaying the greatness of her patriots. As a result, more emphasis is placed on Harriet Tubman than on George Washington, more on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II than on D-day or Iwo Jima, more on the dangers we faced from Joseph McCarthy than those we faced from Josef Stalin.

This book offers a long-overdue acknowledgment of America's true and proud history. The authors reexamine America's discovery, founding, and development with an appreciation for the principles of public virtue, personal liberty, and private property that have made this nation so uniquely successful.

What the Critics Say

"A welcome, refreshing, and solid contribution to relearning what we have forgotten and remembering why this nation is good, and worth defending." (National Review) "There are a thousand pleasant surprises and heartening reminders that underneath it all America remains a country of ideas, ideals, and optimism: and no amount of revisionism can take that legacy away." (Humane Studies Review) "Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen remind us what a few good individuals can do in just a few short centuries....A fluid account of America from the discovery of the continent up to the present day." (Wall Street Journal)

What did you like best about A Patriot's History of the United States? What did you like least?

It was a refreshing departure from the "History" that is taught in colleges these days. It focuses less on racism, prejudice, and bigotry and more on politics, war, and the home. The obvious conservative bias makes it a little difficult to take seriously primarily due to the author's treatment of Clinton and George W Bush. Up until that point in the story, I was right with him in what seemed like a pretty fair assessment of major events in US history. The events of the recent past (with the exception of 9/11) don't seem as critical in the story of the country as other major past events, but one would not be able to make that determination based on the relative amount of time spent by the author in recounting this period.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

This volume contains only stories you've heard before... occasionally with some new insight, but basically the same stuff you learned as an elementary and junior high schooler. Weren't there any unsung heroes in American History that aren't household names?

Which scene was your favorite?

The depictions of the Civil War and the New Deal provided insights and opinions that I had never heard before.

Was A Patriot's History of the United States worth the listening time?

It was quite long... but I spend a lot of time in the car. I wanted a start-to-finish history of the United States, and that's what I got. This can't be done in a shorter time period and still be worth listening to.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this for the younger generation who probably hasn't heard some of these stories due to the changing curriculum in primary schools and to anyone who is tired of hearing that American is history is simply a story of racial bigotry and hatred.

I’m pleasantly surprised with the intensity of passion and diversity of opinion from the reviewers who posted their comments here. It is an affirmation of what the author of this book is saying. The heart of American patriotism lies in our self proclaimed right to express ourselves. Right or wrong, Americans have had the strong will to stand up and take action. This book is an account of that American will. I highly recommend this read. We have a unique history. I chuckled at the account of how Europeans considered American colonists to be unrefined and lack class. As pioneers we have never dressed to impress. Our culture is rooted in a pragmatic approach to living, with special emphasis on the rights of the individual. Americans think differently than the rest of the world. History helps us recognize why. We protect our social freedoms and economic security with a 230 year old political system of checks and balances, laws, not kings, or dictators. Americans trust that system of laws where so many other nations have self destructed with violence. We don’t live in a perfect world. This book does not propagandize us as such. Mistakes and injustices are exposed. Men of genius and character are recognized. And just for the record, I am not of the politically right. I was not offended by this author’s perspective. My interest was kept as he explained how we created a system to challenge the unjust, employ reason and critical thinking to self analyze, to right the wrongs, to blunder, admit it, and pick ourselves back up, to be cautious when it came to starting the fight, but recognize when the time is right to come together with formidable strength to protect what we all know to be “self evident truths”. With eyes wide open, republican conservative, or liberal democrat, we are all patriots.

This book from start to finish was filled with great accounts of American ambition, innovation, faith, determination, and hope that drives this country forward. The authors were wonderful in their vision create an accurate portrayal of American events showing both America's faults and its greatest achievements. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys history. It is a long book, but well worth the time. The narrator keeps you listening and the stories are not dull because the authors do not drown you with names and dates every other sentence. If you have the time and truly want to learn about American history than look no further.

This is a history book that I did not want to end. This is the most balanced book covering America's history. I was concerned that it would be too glossy and put a positive spin on everything and everyone.

Every high schooler and college student should listen to this book before heading off to school. The narrator has great energy and is the best narrator that I have listened to.

I highly recommend this book for people that are tired of left/right wing spins on history and want the story of their nation.

Picked this up on audible's $5 sale. Very dissappointed. The title should have been warning enough, but it took a very short time listening to realize that this book is near propaganda. This is a book written with an agenda. The narrative focuses on blaming Democrats whenever possible. The reader practically hisses the words liberal and Democrat and his attempts at other voices for quotes is just horrid. If you want good, unbiased history, go with the Oxford series on US history. Save your time and money and avoid this book

I love history and read many historical books, this is very inaccurate account. For example this book states, the results from CCC and WPA are negligible the work ended in 1948. The funny thing is, within 50 miles of the small town where I live are 20 examples of the work from the CCC and WPA and they still being used. It is a slap in the face of all who worked so hard to do such good work, still being used 60 years later. I am neither a Republican or a Democrat, but if you want to write a bias book state it up front. This book's only redeeming feature is it does give insight on how two Republicans view history. I called it the OMG book because, no a chapter went by that I found to be very misleading. If you are a Republican you will love it. If you are in to accurate histories, a Democrate, or do not like politics you will hate it.

This book is long overdue, finally the other side of the story can be told, the one you always knew or hoped for would be true. We live in a great country and its not run by crooks or crazy men. This book is an excellent story and well worth your time. After hearing this story I hope you will be proud to live in this country again.

This is a wonderful listen! The authors have done a nice job in presenting history thru story telling. It reminds me of cold winter nights when my Grandfather would meet his fellow farmers at the local general store. They would surrond themselves around a coal burning stove and tell stories late into the eveing. Those stories are rooted in my mind because of they way they were told. You'll find the same when you listen to "A Patriot's History of the United States."

While this book is overtly an "answer" to perceived "left wing" recountings of U.S. history, the account up through the end of the 19th century is broad an informative. Yes, there is a point of view--an interpretation of US history from the perspective of the contemporary hard right--but there's a real attempt at presenting history of the evolution of American politics and society. But starting at the Civil War, the narrative gradually starts to move away from a recounting history, per se, toward more and more critiques of centrist and left wing economic, social and political ideas, and less and less history. By the time it reaches the 1980s and nineties, there's barely a pretense left. Instead, there's a selection of events, cherry-picked to provide a soap-box for elevating the right and dismissing the center and left, with unsupported pronouncements abounding (one of my faves: racism ended in the ninties!), until the final two chapters which are really nothing more than rants. It's disappointing. As a liberal, I was hoping for a well-supported conservative take on history, to better understand the point of view. The first half of the book does that; the second is about as factually informative as a Sean Hannity broadcast -- which is to say, not much.

I have been looking for a "potted" history of the United States of America and stumbled across this. Since I had a credit to use I thought, "what's the worst that can happen?" thinking that 50 hours of audio for 1 credit, it must be quite poor.

I have to report that both the subject matter and the narrator bring this subject to life in a way I never thought possible. If you are interested in American history (or history in general) then this book is an essential purchase.

The subject is read in more or less chronological order making it easy to follow and interesting at the same time and you start to be able to see to the roots of issues that present themselves later on.

Expertly written and read, making for an enthralling experience from start to finish.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Richard

paulstown, Ireland

3/24/12

Overall

"A short 50 hours"

Although like most historical works written from a particular perspective, it was well constructed and very well read. Its length can be daunting but it is read at a pace that keeps you interested and is not overly full of facts. It covers the main points as you would expect. If you are looking for something to give you a good grounding in American History and as long as you bear in mind its conclusions are from a particular perspective you will not be disappointed by this work.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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